Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China     

    BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao returned to Beijing Friday morning from quake-hit Sichuan Province in the southwest, where he has been directing the rescue and relief efforts since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck on Monday.

    He flew to the provincial capital of Chengdu on Monday afternoon just a few hours after the earthquake and then rushed from one quake-hit area to another to console victims and give instructions on rescue work.

    "We have organized more than 100,000 people from across the country for rescue work," Wen said in an interview with Chinese media before he left Sichuan.

    He said rescue teams had reached all the disaster-hit counties and townships. Professional rescuers were sent to rescue people who were buried in debris, and they had saved a large number of victims.

    More than 100 helicopters flew to areas which were cut off from the outside because of quake damage, to transport rescuers, supplies and carry back injured people, he said.

    Wen said saving lives remained the top priority almost four days after the quake. "We won't give up if there is even the slightest hope of finding more survivors," he said.

    He stressed that the majority of disaster-hit areas were in mountainous areas with inconvenient transport. This posed a great obstacle for disaster relief. "We have to be prepared for all the difficulties and challenges and make great efforts to carry on with the rescue until the very end."

    He said he had almost been to all the worst-stricken areas in Sichuan since he arrived on Monday, and was deeply moved by the people there who showed a great sense of unity, courage and selflessness.

    "I am very sorrowful for people who lost their lives, and I have mourned in silence," Wen said. "But life has to continue. I believe people in those areas will rebuild their hometowns with their own hands, and will continue to contribute to the development of the country."

    Wen said the quake was "the biggest and most destructive since new China was founded in 1949," and the quick response had helped reduce casualties to the greatest extent.

    The premier vowed "to pour out whatever the country is capable of" to combat the massive disaster and fight until the end.

    To move forward with relief work, the country needs confidence, resolution, perseverance and forceful organization work, he said.

    During his trip to Sichuan, the premier visited almost all the worst-hit cities and towns including Dujiangyan, Deyang, Mianzhu, Mianyang, Beichuan, Wenchuan and Qingchuan.

    From the big issues of restoring traffic flows and allocating troops to tiny things like milk powder for infants, Wen addressed them carefully at relief work meetings.

    "We believe that so long as we rely on the people, the military and the civilians unite together, the officials and the general public unite together, and together we stand, we will surely win this anti-quake battle," Wen stressed.